Corey Perry practiced with his Ducks teammates Tuesday for the first time since he felt something pop in his right knee during the pregame warmup before an exhibition game Sept. 24. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

ANAHEIM — Corey Perry practiced with his Ducks teammates Tuesday for the first time since he felt something pop in his right knee during the pregame warmup before an exhibition game Sept. 24 against the Arizona Coyotes at Honda Center. He underwent surgery to mend cartilage and a ligament two days later.

Perry said Tuesday he had been skating for the past “eight, nine, 10 days” with Larry Barron, the Ducks’ skating and skill development coach. It was hard work, grueling and mind-numbing activity designed to get him to the point that he could participate in a regular practice with his teammates.

It was a good first step in Perry’s recovery and rehabilitation.

Joining the Ducks for their practice was another significant one.

“It’s been feeling good and that’s why we practiced today,” said Perry, a right wing.

There is no timetable for Perry’s return to the lineup, though. There are several hurdles to be cleared before he can make his 2018-19 debut. The Ducks’ original prognosis called for a layoff of up to five months, which would mean he could be sidelined until roughly March 1.

“It’s been four months,” he said. “It’s a work in progress. I have no expectations, just going out and doing the best I can do. I knew what my day was going to be like. I woke up and had a smile on my face and did a lot of things. I’m probably going to crash (Tuesday) afternoon and get a good nap.

“It was a good day. I’ll take anything that’s positive right now.”

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Perry participated in all of the Ducks’ drills while wearing a red non-contact jersey. There were no one-on-one battle drills and his physical contact was limited. However, he was on a penalty-killing unit for one drill, which prompted some light-hearted kidding from some of his teammates.

“I wasn’t in there pushing and battling, but that’s another step, that’s the next step, the battle part, and getting pushed on and pushing on somebody and working on the wall,” he said. “The guys were giving me (stuff). I haven’t killed a penalty in about nine years, but I was out there killing a penalty.

“But that was good for me with the stops, starts and changes in direction. It definitely helps.”

MEDICAL NEWS

The Ducks are expected to provide updates Wednesday about the conditions of injured forwards Ondrej Kase (upper body), Ryan Kesler (lower body) and Jakob Silfverberg (lower body). Kase was injured Thursday against Minnesota and Kesler and Silfverberg were hurt Jan. 15 against Detroit.

EAVES UPDATE

The Ducks were granted an extension for right wing Patrick Eaves’ conditioning loan to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. He played three games with the Gulls, including during a 4-1 victory over the Ontario Reign on Monday. He’s been cleared to play two more games with San Diego.

MILLER SKATES

Goaltender Ryan Miller skated before the Ducks practiced, but there is no timetable for his return to the lineup from a sprained right knee suffered during the third period of a shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 9 at Honda Center. He was expected to be out for up to six weeks.

CRACKNELL RECALLED

One day after centers Sam Carrick and Justin Kloos were reassigned to the Gulls, the Ducks recalled right wing Adam Cracknell from San Diego. Cracknell has seven goals and 13 points in 13 games with the Gulls, after the Ducks acquired him in a Dec. 10 trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

LOOKING AHEAD

Wednesday’s game against St. Louis will be the Ducks’ last before the All-Star break this weekend and their bye week to follow. They return to action Feb. 2, when they begin a five-game trip at Winnipeg. Wednesday is their lone home game in a stretch in which they play 10 of 11 on the road.

Elliott Teaford covers the Anaheim Ducks for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He covered the Ducks for 12 years, including the Stanley Cup season, for the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Breeze before returning to the beat in 2018 for SCNG. He also covered the Lakers for five seasons, including their back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and '10. He once made a jump shot over future Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton during a pickup game in 1980 at Cypress College.

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